Managing High Blood Pressure Medications

Updated:Jan 10,2018

When your doctor prescribes blood pressure medication As part of a solution designed to fit your needs, your doctor may determine that you need prescription medication in addition to lifestyle changes to control your high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension).

Talk to your doctor and pharmacist if you have concernsWhile you might have fears and concerns, the long-term health consequences of uncontrolled high blood pressure are often worse than any medication side-effects. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Everyone involved has the same priority — putting your health first.

Getting it right Treating high blood pressure requires time, patience and care by both you and your doctor. The important thing is for you to communicate with your doctor and to follow his/her course of treatment.

Don’t insist that your doctor prescribe certain drugs.There can be serious side effects if you take a drug that isn’t right for you. Always discuss any medication choices with your doctor and work together to control your blood pressure.

Take medications for high blood pressure — exactly as prescribed — for as long as required.Don’t run out of pills for even one day. Taking a pill every other day or splitting your pills in half to make them last longer is actually decreasing your dosage and may be dangerous. Your blood pressure can rise to dangerous levels, putting you at risk for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure.

You may need more than one prescription. Because different drugs do different things in the body, you may need more than one medication to properly manage your blood pressure.

If you are having a hard time affording your medications…Talk to your doctor or pharmacist. There may be solutions like assistance programs or generic forms of medication.

Tell all of your healthcare providers about all of the over-the-counter and prescription drugs you are taking. Some drugs and supplements can raise blood pressure and/or interfere with the effectiveness of high blood pressure medication. These drugs can include: steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), nasal decongestants and other cold remedies, diet pills, cyclosporine, erythropoietin, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

Be patient if it takes time to find the right dose for you. If you have side effects, tell your doctor. Different people can respond very differently to medications. Everyone has to go through a trial period to find out which medications work best with the fewest side effects. Give yourself a chance to adjust to a drug. It may take several weeks, but the results will usually be worth it. If you don’t feel well after taking a medication, let your doctor know so he/she can adjust your treatment. Never change or stop taking prescribed medications unless directed by your doctor.

Keep appointments with your healthcare professionals. It’s important to monitor your progress and make adjustments to your treatment to keep your blood pressure under control.

Don’t go “doctor shopping” and communicate with everyone involved in your treatment plan. Stick to one reliable doctor or healthcare provider and follow through with your treatment plan. If you’re working with a primary care doctor and a specialist, make sure that each knows what the other has prescribed. Using one pharmacy for all your prescriptions also helps avoid dangerous drug interactions.

Expect to treat high blood pressure for life. Doctors will sometimes reduce a patient’s drug dosages after achieving normal blood pressure and maintaining it for a year or more, although it is rare for the treatment to be stopped entirely. Some form of treatment must be continued over a lifetime for good results.

Even if you’re feeling fine, NEVER cut back or quit taking the prescribed medication. Never stop taking prescribed drugs, including medications that lower blood pressure, without consulting your doctor. Medication and lifestyle changes can make a huge difference. However, it’s the combination of these factors that’s working, not just lifestyle alone.

Medicine Management

Compliance simply means following the recommendations of your team of healthcare professionals. These often include taking medications as well as making lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, eating right, maintaining a healthy weight and getting the right kind of physical activity. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important in reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Taking medications properly is another part of compliance. Medicines may not work unless taken as prescribed. Or they can leave you dizzy, sick or worse. Or, without knowing it, you could counteract one medicine by taking it with another.

Take part in treatment decisions and, if you don’t understand something, ask questions. Carefully follow the agreed upon treatment plan, and watch for and work with your healthcare team to solve any problems.

Are you a "Good Dog" or "Bad Dog" when it comes to your medication? Take our "Good Dog, Bad Dog Compliance Quiz" and find out how well you follow your healthcare professional's recommendations.

Compliance simply means following the recommendations of your team of healthcare professionals. These often include taking medications as well as making lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, eating right, maintaining a healthy weight and getting the right kind of physical activity. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important in reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Taking medications properly is another part of compliance. Medicines may not work unless taken as prescribed. Or they can leave you dizzy, sick or worse. Or, without knowing it, you could counteract one medicine by taking it with another.

Take part in treatment decisions and, if you don’t understand something, ask questions. Carefully follow the agreed upon treatment plan, and watch for and work with your healthcare team to solve any problems.

Are you a "Good Dog" or "Bad Dog" when it comes to your medication? Take our "Good Dog, Bad Dog Compliance Quiz" and find out how well you follow your healthcare professional's recommendations.

Review these questions with your healthcare team and be actively engaged in your health. If you think you might have trouble understanding your doctor or pharmacist, ask a friend or loved one to go with you to listen, help you and take notes.

What is the name of the medicine?

Is this the brand or generic name?

What is the medicine supposed to do?

How and when do I take it, and for how long?

What is one dose?

Should I take it with food or on an empty stomach?

What foods, drinks, other medicines or activities should I avoid while taking this medicine?

Is there any written information available about the medicine?

What happens if I miss a dose of my medicine?

How often will I have to get the medication refilled?

How will I know that my medication is working?

What are the risks of taking this medication?

What are the risks of NOT taking this medication?

Are there less expensive medications for my condition? Can these questions be sent to a cell phone?

These tips will help you remember your meds. Choose those that will work best for you.

Take your medicine at the same time every day.

Take it along with other daily events, like brushing your teeth.

Ask people close to you to help remind you.

Get some colored labels and stick them on your medicine bottles to simplify your routine. For example, blue can be for morning, red for afternoon and yellow for bedtime.

Many types of pill containers are available. You can find some available at a drugstore that are divided into sections for each day of the week. Timer caps for pills bottles even beep to remind you when to take medication. Ask your pharmacist about these aids.

Ask your pharmacist to help you come up with a coding system for your medications that makes them easier to take. Some pharmacists will prepare blister packs for daily or weekly medications.

Make an instruction sheet for yourself by taping a sample of each pill you take on a sheet of paper and writing down all the information about each pill to remind you.

Keep a "medicine calendar" near your medicine and make a note every time you take your dose.

Put a sticker or reminder note on your medicine cabinet or refrigerator. Or buy a small magnetized white board and use dry-erase markers to list your pills on it. Each day, mark the board when you take your medication. Then, and at the end of the day, erase the board and start over again in the morning. Download a printable medicine tracker.

If you're using a commercial pill dispenser, set a regular time each week to refill it. For example, you might fill it every Friday night after you eat.

If you're away from home a lot, make sure you carry enough of your medication with you to take the prescribed doses while you're out.

Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can work wonders when taken the right way. But using them incorrectly can harm you.

The more meds you take, the greater your risk of problems. That’s why a medication checkup is a good idea. One benefit is that it can help you find dangerous medicine combinations. It may also reveal medicines you don’t need to take anymore or improper dosages. You may even discover mistakes in how you’re taking your medicines.

To protect your health, follow these simple steps from the National Council on Patient Information and Education:

HBP Resources

Heart Insight Supplement: Know Your Medicines

Keeping track of your medicines can be overwhelming. Learn what you can do to take all your medicines safely and effectively in this free supplement from Heart Insight magazine. View and share via your preferred platform: